DEMOISELLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does demoiselle mean? 

• DEMOISELLE (noun)
  The noun DEMOISELLE has 2 senses:

1. a young unmarried woman

2. small brilliantly colored tropical marine fishes of coral reefs

  Familiarity information: DEMOISELLE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEMOISELLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A young unmarried woman

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

damoiselle; damosel; damozel; damsel; demoiselle

Hypernyms ("demoiselle" is a kind of...):

maid; maiden (an unmarried girl (especially a virgin))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Small brilliantly colored tropical marine fishes of coral reefs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

damselfish; demoiselle

Hypernyms ("demoiselle" is a kind of...):

percoid; percoid fish; percoidean (any of numerous spiny-finned fishes of the order Perciformes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "demoiselle"):

beaugregory; Pomacentrus leucostictus (a blue and yellow damselfish of Bermuda and Florida and the West Indies)

anemone fish (live associated with sea anemones)

Abudefduf saxatilis; sergeant major (large blue-grey black-striped damselfish; nearly worldwide)

Holonyms ("demoiselle" is a member of...):

family Pomacentridae; Pomacentridae (damselfishes)

 Context examples 

What! hale a demoiselle against her will, and then loose dogs at his own brother!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Quel nom a cette jeune demoiselle en les pantoufles jolis?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

No notice was taken of Amy's flight, except by her mates, but the sharp-eyed demoiselles discovered that Mr. Davis was quite benignant in the afternoon, also unusually nervous.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I tell you, my fair lord, she was saying, that it is no fit training for a demoiselle: hawks and hounds, rotes and citoles singing a French rondel, or reading the Gestes de Doon de Mayence, as I found her yesternight, pretending sleep, the artful, with the corner of the scroll thrusting forth from under her pillow.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Of course, there were many light-footed, shrill-voiced American girls, handsome, lifeless-looking English ditto, and a few plain but piquante French demoiselles, likewise the usual set of traveling young gentlemen who disported themselves gaily, while mammas of all nations lined the walls and smiled upon them benignly when they danced with their daughters.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)